The Chattooga Indians put an emphatic end to their winless streak Friday night, defeating the Armuchee Indians 45-27 on the road, largely thanks to a powerful ground game that proved too much for their hosts. Both teams entered the contest desperate for their inaugural victory of the season, with Chattooga sporting an 0-3 record and Armuchee standing at 0-2. It was Chattooga, however, that ultimately broke through, showcasing determination that had been building through tough early-season matchups.

Chattooga’s offensive strategy was clear and effective: run the football. The visiting Indians ran the ball a staggering 52 times for a total of 302 yards, averaging nearly six yards per carry. Junior Aiden Fletcher was the undisputed workhorse, carrying the ball 22 times for a monumental 187 yards – an average of 8.5 yards per tote – and scoring the game’s opening touchdown. Fletcher finished with more than half of his team’s yards from scrimmage, dominating the Armuchee defensive front.

The Indians from Summerville wasted no time establishing their dominance, scoring within two minutes of the opening kickoff. Fletcher capped a swift five-play, 79-yard drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown with 10 minutes left in the first quarter. Armuchee responded with a methodical 11-play, 57-yard drive that consumed five minutes, but that would be their only score of the first half. Chattooga continued to press, adding two more touchdowns and a 40-yard field goal before the break, building a commanding 24-7 halftime lead.

Chattooga wouldn’t let up after the break, scoring again in the third quarter to further extend their lead. While Armuchee’s run defense showed improvement in the second half, allowing 4.6 yards per carry compared to 7.4 in the first, and recording six tackles for loss, the initial deficit proved insurmountable. The visiting Indians never relinquished their lead, ultimately securing a decisive 45-27 victory to notch their first win of the young season.

Outside of Fletcher’s stellar performance, freshman Javion Cotton also made significant contributions to Chattooga’s ground attack, adding 88 yards on 24 attempts. Quarterback Brock Cooper complemented the run game with efficient, though limited, passing, completing 3 of 7 attempts for 63 yards, including two catches by senior Koi Dodd for 33 yards.

The Chattooga Indians will look to build on this momentum next Friday night as they return home to host Gordon Central. Meanwhile, the Trion Bulldogs, who had an off-week, will prepare for their homecoming game next Friday night when they will take on the Manchester Blue Devils.